Post by du5tin on Apr 30, 2011 20:15:56 GMT -5
Tonight, at the ECW Arena in South Philly, Heyman debuts “Extreme” to the world of professional wrestling. We have the Extreme Tag Team Tournament kicking off with the Extreme Horsemen taking on the Hillbillies, One Man Gang and Ox Baker taking on Brown Snow, Steve Williams and Jim Duggan taking on Tiger Mask and Jushin Liger, and Larry Hennig and Harley Race taking on the Ebony Express. Finally, in the main event, Jimmy Snuka will put his newly won ECW World Heavyweight Championship on the line against the Sandman. Let’s get to the ring...
TV Taping
ECW Arena—South Philly, PA
Card #1—May 2, 1992
Paul E. Heyman opened the show by showing highlights of Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka defeating Sal Bellomo in Eastern Championship Wrestling to become the NWA Eastern Championship Wrestling Heavyweight Champion, only to claim ECW as Extreme Championship Wrestling and to proclaim its departure from the NWA. After the video, Heyman boldly said, “This is the Era of Extreme!”
1. The first match of the night kicked off the Extreme Tag Team Tournament. Hillbilly Jim and Cousin Luke, the Hillbillies, took on Steve Corino and Justin Credible, the Extreme Horsemen. Cousin Luke started out the match but never got to tag in Jim. After Corino softened Luke up with a turnbuckle-diving chairshot and an Old School Expulsion, Credible finished him off with a superkick.
2. One Man Gang and Ox Baker versus Brown Snow, D’Lo Brown and Al Snow, was the match of the night, probably a four star match. All four men got a significant amount of time in the ring. Brown withstood a 747 Splash off the ring apron and through a table, which was easily the spot off the night. However, the end came in dramatic fashion. Brown hit OMG with the Sky High and Lo Down; OMG kicked out. Snow came in and hit the Snow Plow with the help of Brown; again, OMG kicked out. Brown hit another Lo Down; finally, One Man Gang couldn’t kick out anymore.
“Dr. Death” Steve Williams stood in front of the ECW backdrop. “Yes, it’s a miracle we’re here, but it isn’t the MVC. It’s Duggan and Williams.” Jim “Hacksaw” Duggan stepped into view of the camera with his 2x4 in hand. “Gordy’s in Japan. ‘Hacksaw’ and ‘Dr. Death’ are in South Philly! We’ve had our differences in the past, but we’ve put that past us. Our goal is to rid ECW of Race and Hennig,” Williams concluded.
3. “Dr. Death” Steve Williams and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan took on a replacement team in Tiger Mask and Jushin Liger. Buff Bagwell and Val Venis, Nine Inch Males, were held up in Los Angeles due to severe weather. Williams opened the match by killing Liger with a lariat. In the end, the underdogs of Tiger Mask and Jushin Liger could not withstand the brute power of Williams and Duggan; “Dr. Death” finished Tiger Mask off with the Oklahoma Stampede.
4. “Handsome” Harley Race and “Pretty Boy” Larry Hennig didn’t even break a sweet in their match against Koko B. Ware and S.D. Jones, the Ebony Express. Jones started out trying to throw some offense at Race, but “Handsome” Harley brushed him off and tagged in Hennig. “Pretty Boy” beat “Philadelphia’s Favorite Son” down and finished him off with a bearhug.
5. In the main event, Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka put his newly won ECW World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Sandman. The crowd really got behind Sandman as he smashed a beer can on his head and then spewed it in Snuka’s face. Sandman then pummeled Snuka down and got two nearfalls; one after a legdrop, and the other after a White Russian Leg Sweep. The fans, oddly, loved seeing the weaker fan favorite getting destroyed in the name of “Extreme!” Actually, a new fan favorite was born when Sandman showed disrespect to Snuka! Sandman eventually unloaded on Snuka with his Singapore Cane and pulled him to the ring apron with a headlock. Sandman then nailed Snuka with the Hardcore DDT off the ring apron and onto the floor. Heyman handed Sandman the ECW World Heavyweight Championship as Jimmy Snuka was counted out. Snuka left the ring angered at how the fans had so easily turned on him for the likes of the Sandman.